Drew Barnes training with us

[one-eyed]

Saw this first on BF from the Shepparton News:

Out to Barnes storm AFL
November 29 2006
Wes Cusworth
Shepparton News

Richmond Football Club continues to scour the Goulburn Valley for prospective talent, now turning its attention to Nathalia in search of the AFL's next big thing.

After already scooping the talentladen pool to the tune of Brett Deledio and Kane Pettifer (Kyabram), Chris Hyde (Barooga) and Daniel Connors (Echuca), the Tigers are zeroing in on two-time Murray Football League premiership player Drew Barnes.

The invitation to train gives 19-year-old Barnes a window of opportunity to impress selectors ahead of the pre-season draft midway through next month.

"I'm really happy to get this chance and I'm guessing it's going to be pretty full-on for the next couple of weeks," a delighted Barnes said yesterday.

"I'm not sure who put them on to me, but I received a letter basically inviting me to try out.

"My fitness may have dropped off a little bit since the season finished, but I'm working at getting that back again."

Barnes, along with rising Mooroopna star Jarrod Harbrow, ran a 2 km time trial on Sunday before the Tigers' hierarchy put them through their paces in a series of speedendurance activities.

"I was pretty happy with the time trial as I finished in the top three from the 15 that were trying out," Barnes said.

"I did the 2 km in 7 min 8 sec and while Jarrod was behind me he still did pretty well too."

This year's Purples best and fairest winner will no doubt cover some kilometres in forthcoming weeks, continuing his work at Bennett Sports in Echuca while pursuing his big break into the AFL.

http://archives.mcmedia.com.au/story.asp?TakeNo=200611297468969

[one-eyed]

Barnes is mentioned again today in the Herald-Sun:

Richmond is looking at Drew Barnes, who played for the Murray Bushrangers in 2005 before returning to his local club Nathalia this season.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20891848%255E20322,00.html

Here are his TAC Cup stats from 2005 playing for the Murray Bushrangers:

2. Drew BARNES 25/01/87 184 78 Nathalia
Close checking midfielder with good skills.

M Gls Bhd Bests Kicks  Hb Mks Tks HO
18  7  10   10     264   87  71   51   1

Stats per game here: http://www.sportingpulse.com/nf/team_info.cgi?player=Drew%20Barnes&action=PSTATS&pID=81373144&client=1-3020-0-31094-3770038

[WilliamPowell]

Is there anyone we are not looking at  ???

Facts are we have 1 senior spot available and 2 rookie spots. By my maths that's 3 spots.

And going by the media we are supposedly looking at about 15 people 

There's going to be alot of disappointed footballers next week

[one-eyed]

Is there anyone we are not looking at  ???

Well now that you've asked WP lol .

These are the guys currently training with us according to footygoss.com:

Drew Barnes, Nathalia
Taz Clingan, North Ballarat Rebels
Nicholas Georgiadis, Western Jets
Shaun Huy, Coburg
Jak Kennedy-Hunt, Geelong Falcons
Jake King, Coburg
Kent Kingsley, Geelong
Dean Limbach, Richmond
Nick Lynch, McLeod

The list for each club is here: http://www.footygoss.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=31504

[Ramps]

The top 3 on that list may be worthwhile, Zac Hier is missing from the list dont know if hes been cut. A couple of the coburg boys deserve a go as well but who knows. Im leaning towards us passing in the PSD and loading up on rookies.

[mightytiges]

The top 3 on that list may be worthwhile, Zac Hier is missing from the list dont know if hes been cut. A couple of the coburg boys deserve a go as well but who knows. Im leaning towards us passing in the PSD and loading up on rookies.

We would have to move Richo back onto the senior list as a inside vet to do that.

I'm guessing we'll take Kingsley in th PSD and then King and Limbach as rookies.

[HKTiger]

Taz Clingan showed some exquisite skills at the Training session I attended.

Whilst only one session, if that skill is consistent I would hope that he gets drafted or rookied.

[one-eyed]

Nick Lynch, McLeod

Some info on Nick Lynch.



FF at Macleod FC (coached by Wayne Harmes) in the DVFL 2nd Division who kicked 101 goals for the season.

R1 vs South Morang: 8
R2 vs Panton Hill: 8
R3 vs Greensborough: 1
R4 vs Reservoir: 10
R5 vs Lower Plenty: 5
R6 vs Whittlesea: 2
R7 vs Mernda: 5
R8 vs Hurstbridge: 1
R9 vs Parkside: 9
R10 vs Fawkner Park: 5
R11 vs Heidelberg West: 1
R12 vs Kinglake: 8
R13 vs Watsonia: 4
R14 vs Thomastown: 9
R15 vs Wallan: 9
R16 vs South Morang: 1
R17 vs Panton Hill: 5
R18 vs Greensborough:-
SF vs Greensborough: 2?
PF vs Reservoir: 5
GF vs Greensborough:3

[WilliamPowell]

We would have to move Richo back onto the senior list as a inside vet to do that.

And if we were to do that it would mean NO PSD pick wouldn't it? Cannot see us doing that.

I'm guessing we'll take Kingsley in th PSD and then King and Limbach as rookies.

Would love to see King get rookied (after watching him at Coburg deserves it IMO)- it's a pity we cannot have more than 4 rookies - this year seems like the year you would want to end up with a minimum of 6 

[Bulluss]

I believe that Shaun Huy has really impressed this pre-season, he is currently mid 20's on the NAB cup challenge.

Has really stepped up and thrown his hat into the ring.

[Gordon Bennett]

Last year, the PSD choice and the 3 rookies taken all trained with us in the weeks prior, although Humm was less than a week. This suggests that the people we take will again come from those that have been training with us.

[mightytiges]

it's a pity we cannot have more than 4 rookies - this year seems like the year you would want to end up with a minimum of 6 

Yep two vets means we can only have 4 rookies in total.

IMO you get the feeling that we'll do what we had rumouredly planned for some time. For example moving a listed player to the rookie list (Limbach) and rookieing a Coburg player. We just have been keeping our options open in case someone else popped up out of nowhere.